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Stephen Amell 'Would Not Be Upset' With DCEU Arrow Re-Casting

Continuity in the comic book world can be a complicated thing to get right. No matter how much source material is available, DC and WB are never going to be able to please everyone. Arrow has created a not-quite-cannon shared universe across the CW network shows; while the DC Extended Universe, which is the film universe, is connected in a way that is not related to the events in the DCTV/Arrowverse. It's a daunting task for both film and TV, but presents an opportunity for DC to get more of its stories out to their fanbase without falling into monotony.

The separation has sparked some controversy about existing story arcs and totally separate casting of characters. After a fan-manufactured rift created between Grant Gustin's Flash and Ezra Miller's Flash, along with the dissolution of Arrow's version of the Suicide Squad, there's an undue tension between the two sets of actors playing these characters.

At a recent panel during Salt Lake City Comic-Con, Amell spoke up about his feelings on the very separate worlds that DC has created. In a video of the panel posted on Comic Book (thanks to Ammaross Danan, a fan in attendance), Amell addresses the question of Oliver Queen in the DCEU films and the actor's perceived negative reaction about Gustin not being cast in the film, saying:

"Again, I just thought the timing [of the Flash film casting] was less than appropriate. I do not have a right to Oliver Queen. Someone played it before me, someone voiced it before me, somebody will play him after me. I don't believe there are plans for Oliver Queen in the DCEU, based on things people have told me, but I would not be upset if that changed at all."

DCTV has its hands full managing the shared Arrowverse and the addition of Supergirl to the CW's lineup. The four shows are set for at least one massive four-night cross-over event, and the highly anticipated two-night musical cross-over between The Flash and Supergirl.

"That's not how that works. Diane Nelson, Geoff Johns, the people at WB on the features side, the people at WB on the TV side are all in the business of making the best products for the fans. Diane Nelson sent me a very, very eloquent email explanation as to why they thought the cinematic universe and the television universe should remain separate, and it made perfect sense to me... Look, there is no in-fighting, there is no war between the two factions. It's all a collaborative effort and in the grand scheme of things, I think that the television universe has done just fine for itself."

In the wake of the polarizing reception that the first three DCEU films have received, Amell has a point about DCTV holding its own.

The Flash season 3 will premiere Tuesday October 4th at 8pm on The CW; Arrow season 5 will premiere in the same timeslot on Wednesday October 5th; Supergirl season 2 on Monday October 10th; and Legends of Tomorrow season 2 on Thursday October 13th.